step & pace

[Mad-ox]

hi,

What is the difference between step and pace?


Thank you beforehand!,
m

[BobK]

hi,
What is the difference between step and pace?
Thank you beforehand!,
m

Sometimes, not much:

People who've been here before, take one step/pace forward

There are some cases where the meanings are totally distinct:

the first step of the staircase
the pace of a cheetah

But, even where the meanings are similar, there are some collocations that are fixed:

one step forward and two steps back

is an expression of frustratingly slow progress, that wouldn't sound right with 'pace'.

Similarly, this is advice for improved perspective:

I advise you to take a pace back, and think again

I think I'd expect 'pace' rather than 'step' there.

b